My Vietnam
Pink/Scratch Lyrics
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Peace and all the great things that we take
Advantage of
Once I fed the homeless, I'll never forget
I look upon their faces as I treated them with
Respect
And
This is my Vietnam
I'm at war
Life keeps on dropping bombs
And I keep score
Momma was a lunatic, she liked to push my buttons
She said I wasn't good enough, but I guess I
Wasn't trying
Never like school that much, they tried to teach
Me better
But I just wasn't hearing it because I thought I
Was already pretty clever
And
[Chorus: x2]
What do you expect from me?
What am I not giving you?
What could I do for you to make me OK in your eyes?
[Chorus: x2]
This is my Vietnam
This is my Vietnam
The song "My Vietnam" by Pink/Scratch talks about the struggles and harsh realities of life, comparing it to the brutality and trauma experienced by soldiers during the Vietnam War. The song starts by referencing the singer's father who was a soldier, and how he taught her about freedom and the great things that one shouldn't take for granted. She continues by narrating a time when she fed the homeless and treated them with respect, showing her appreciation for the freedom and privileges she has.
The second verse details the relationship between the singer and her mother, whom she describes as a lunatic who always pushed her buttons. Her mother believed she wasn't good enough and always questioned her effort. The singer reveals that she didn't enjoy school, despite attempts to teach her better, because she thought she was already clever. The chorus explains that life is like a warzone, and like a soldier, the singer keeps score of every bomb that drops. She declares that this is her Vietnam.
The song speaks to the emotional struggles and post-traumatic stress disorder that many veterans face after coming home from war. It also echoes the struggles many people face in their daily life, dealing with trauma and personal battles. The song is deep and introspective, and its lyrics hold a mirror to society's flaws and the struggles that people face every day.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy was a soldier he taught me about freedom
My dad served in the military and instilled in me the importance of freedom.
Peace and all the great things that we take Advantage of
He also taught me to appreciate the things in life that we often take for granted, like peace.
Once I fed the homeless, I'll never forget
I had an experience serving the homeless that had a lasting impact on me.
I look upon their faces as I treated them with Respect
I treated them with respect and saw them as fellow human beings, not just charity cases.
And
Continues to the chorus.
[Chorus] This is my Vietnam, I'm at war, Life keeps on dropping bombs, And I keep score
Life is like a war zone for me, where unexpected challenges and obstacles constantly come my way, and I need to keep track of them and overcome them.
Momma was a lunatic, she liked to push my buttons
My mom had a tendency to mentally stress me out and test my limits.
She said I wasn't good enough, but I guess I Wasn't trying
She constantly put me under pressure and her standards were too high for me, but I knew that I was doing what I could.
Never like school that much, they tried to teach Me better
Although I didn't enjoy school, I tried my best to learn and listen to the teachers.
But I just wasn't hearing it because I thought I Was already pretty clever
I thought I already knew everything, and so I was closed off to learning new things.
And
Continues to the chorus.
[Chorus: x2]
Repeats the idea of life being a battlefield.
What do you expect from me?
I am feeling overwhelmed and inadequate, and wonder what is expected of me.
What am I not giving you?
I want to know what I am lacking and how I can improve.
What could I do for you to make me OK in your eyes?
I want to be accepted and validated, and am unsure of what I need to do to achieve that.
[Chorus: x2] This is my Vietnam, This is my Vietnam
Reiterates that life is a battleground, and emphasizes the ongoing struggle and impact it has on her.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALECIA MOORE, LINDA PERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind